College Football Power Rankings: Penn State, Iowa make gains as Big Ten suddenly provides excitement
Dennis Dodd 2 hrs agohttp://a.msn.com/02/en-us/AAODGFg?ocid=sf
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Biggest Movers
7 Fresno State
8 UCLA
| RK | TEAMS | CHG | RCRD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | The Crimson Tide scored on their first three possessions then napped for a bit. Florida dominated the second half and came within a missed two-pointer of tying the game late. Alabama's vaunted defense gave up 439 yards. There is genuine reason for concern. For only the second time in 96 games dating back to 2014, the Tide rushed for less than 100 yards (91). | -- | 3-0 |
| 2 | Georgia | I was tempted to rank the Bulldogs at No. 1. They've been the most consistent team in the SEC with a point differential of 83 over three games. JT Daniels returned to throw three touchdowns against South Carolina. The defense allowed its first two TDs of the season. Did the Dawgs just become the SEC favorite? | -- | 3-0 |
| 3 | Texas A&M | The Aggies were going to rout New Mexico. That was certain. The game was attractive because it was the starting debut of quarterback Zach Calzada. Haynes King's replacement threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns. Oct. 9, when Alabama visits College Station, looms. The Aggies are 3-0 for the first time since 2016 and have won 11 in a row. | -- | 3-0 |
| 4 | Oregon | You knew the Ducks were destined when center Alex Forsyth correctly named Stony Brook's mascot. The FCS Seawolves did not fare well on dry land as Oregon scored 38 unanswered points after an early 10-7 lead. Pac-12 play begins this week against Arizona. | 1 | 3-0 |
| 5 | Penn State | Fighting the officials and Auburn, the Nittany Lions persevered. It was a good old-fashioned grinder where the SEC officials lost track of downs and Penn State punted on third down. Sean Clifford made up for the tilted field, completing 28 of 32 throws. It was Penn State's first win over an SEC team at home since Alabama in 1985. | 2 | 3-0 |
| 6 | Iowa | Defense continues to dominate in Iowa City. Kent State broke through to score only the third touchdown (in three games) against the Hawkeyes this season. Kent leads the nation in turnovers gained (10). Iowa is tied for fifth in that category (eight). Each team recovered a fumble. Hapless Colorado State is next. | 2 | 3-0 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | If Nebraska wasn't so mistake prone, a seven-point win over Nebraska could have been a lot scarier. OU returned a blocked extra point for a defensive two pointer. Former All-Big Ten kicker Connor Culp has now missed five field goals and three extra points. For pure entertainment value, you need to see D.J. Graham's interception of Adrian Martinez. | 1 | 3-0 |
| 8 | Cincinnati | The Bearcats are halfway through the toughest part of their schedule. They outscored Indiana 28-10 in the second half on the road. QB Desmond Ridder threw for a touchdown and ran for two. "This is huge. I feel like it's a weight lifted off our shoulders," Ridder said. He's already thinking ahead to the biggest game of the season in two weeks at Notre Dame. Win that and an undefeated Cincinnati has a chance at top four consideration. | 4 | 3-0 |
| 9 | Ohio State | If TreVeyon Henderson rushes for 277 yards against Tulsa, is there anyone there to see it? Ohio State's smallest crowd in 51 years witnessed an (eventually) easy victory over the Golden Hurricane. But, wow, did the Oregon loss really impact the Buckeyes' loyal fans that much? Only 74,000 showed up. Secondary coach Matt Barnes called defensive plays in place of embattled defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs. | 1 | 2-1 |
| 10 | Notre Dame | Not allowing Purdue's big marching band drum in Notre Dame Stadium wasn't the best defense played by the Fighting Irish. They held the Boilermakers to one touchdown in a 27-13 win. ND's 26th straight home was also the eighth straight over Purdue. You might even say the Boilers were beaten like a drum. | 1 | 3-0 |
| 11 | Clemson | You can blame a hold-your-breath win over Georgia Tech on a two-hour weather delay. You can blame it on an offense that is still finding its legs. But you better believe Clemson would be out of the playoff race if it didn't have a defense that has yet to give up a touchdown. GT was stopped at the goal line on fourth down to preserve, well, the season. | 2 | 2-1 |
| 12 | UCLA | We interrupt this season to present the annual head-scratching Pac-12 clunker that cuts into the credibility of the conference. The Bruins, who we lauded as defensively improved, were creased all night by Fresno State QB Jake Haener. If you don't know Haener, he's a Washington transfer who leads the country in passing yards and has already thrown 10 touchdowns, the last with 40 seconds left to beat the Bruins. | 8 | 2-1 |
| 13 | Iowa State | The perfect opponent following an imperfect loss to Iowa. The Cyclones systematically destroyed UNLV, 48-3. After being pulled against the Hawkeyes, Brock Purdy completed 21 of 24 passes while throwing three touchdowns. The Rebels are 0-9 under Marcus Arroyo. | 1 | 2-1 |
| 14 | Florida | Dan Mullen was upbeat following a gut-wrenching, two-point loss to Alabama. He should have been. He coached a QB who struggles to throw, Emory Jones, to a career-high in passing. Without injured freshman sensation Anthony Richardson, Florida outscored Alabama 26-10 after falling behind 21-3. Mullen has injected the Gators with a confidence that suggests they can push Georgia in the SEC East. | 1 | 2-1 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | Bye. Which Wisconsin will show up in a showdown against Notre Dame: the one that handed the game to Penn State, or the one that routed Eastern Michigan? Seriously, we don't know who the Badgers are yet, especially with Iowa being the class of the Big Ten West. | -- | 1-1 |
